CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Missouri Baptist University senior
Bryce Bachowski captured his first-ever tournament title on Saturday and headlined a productive day at the 2019 Coe College Invite for the Spartans.
Bachowski navigated his way through the 149-pound bracket with a 5-0 record at the end of the day. The St. Peters, Mo. senior recorded three pins on the way to his first career tournament championship, including a pair to open the invite. Possibly the biggest win on Saturday for Bachowski came in the semifinals against Kyle Cavanaugh of Minnesota State-Mankato. Coming down to the wire, the 2019 NAIA national qualifier edged Cavanaugh 7-6 in a tiebreaker to advance to the championship match. He then secured the title by pinning AJ Patterson of Coe College in the second period (3:33).
"He wrestled like a mad man," head coach
Brian Jackson said of Bachowski's performance following the invitational.
Much like last year's trip to the Coe College Invite, the Spartans had three wrestlers place at the tournament.
Sedrak Sheppard – MBU's other 2019 NAIA national qualifier – lost his first match of the day in the 285 bracket, but won four straight before losing in the consolation final. The senior from Rocky Mount, N.C. placed sixth overall with three pins in consecutive matches.
Rounding out Missouri Baptist's placers was
Steven Weathers in the 157-pound weight class. The junior from Highland Park, Ill. totaled four victories with his only loss coming in the championship bracket quarterfinals to Graceland's Israel Casarez. Weathers won his final three matches to take home fifth place.
Other Spartans to notch at least one win on the day included
Cameron Steinhoff (125),
Jordon Sanders (141),
Joe Stegall (165),
Nathan Vortherms (165)
Caleb Covert (165) and Chandler Simmonds (197).
Before Thanksgiving, the Missouri Baptist men's team will host its first dual of season on Tuesday evening welcoming one of the NAIA's top-ranked teams in No. 3 Marian University. The start time for the match is set for 7 p.m.
RESULTS
